Comment by Scott Adair - October 15, 2015 (1 of 8)

What a pity this been canceled or delayed indefinitely. It is my favorite performance of The Planets (and I've owned dozens of them over the years). Go ahead and get the midline CD. You won't regret it!

Comment by Tommy Wikström - October 24, 2015 (2 of 8)

Oh yes, this is a phenomenal performance! It must be one of those rare standouts in the history of recordings of classical music. At least as far as I can tell. You can hear the seriousness from beginning to end, well-rehearsed and super strong orchestral performance. I wish I could describe this better but great music comes with so elusive characteristics. I’m sure most listeners will live happy with this version.

For some of us there is a very good alternative to this Blu-ray disc - a 24/96 download release. Probably the same technical version as on this disc.

William Steinberg has another really great (!!) performance on DG of music by Hindemith. Over the years I have tried to find more great recordings from Steinberg, but with little success. All those found, has been below par in my book.

Comment by Waveform - October 16, 2016 (3 of 8)

It's interesting fact that this was originally a quadraphonic recording. Who knows, perhaps PENTATONE will release this as a part of their REMASTERED CLASSICS series in next year.

Comment by Scott Adair - February 8, 2018 (4 of 8)

JPC Klassik now lists an April release for this in a two disc, CD/Blu-ray set. There's also a product page for it on Amazon.com, though with fewer details. Personally, I'd much prefer a Pentatone SACD, but will still be glad to get a DGG Blu-ray. I hope this means there's a chance Universal will be doing the similarly announced-then-tabled Nick Drake: Five Leaves Left.

Comment by ubertrout - February 9, 2018 (5 of 8)

I really hope DG puts the quad mixes on the blu-ray - seems a waste to just include a repress of the stereo-only version, especially with this album easily available from HDtracks and elsewhere. We'll see I suppose - they included surround with Kleiber, but haven't otherwise.

Comment by SteelyTom - February 11, 2018 (6 of 8)

Any comments on the musical merits of the Steinberg/BSO performances?

Comment by Scott Adair - February 13, 2018 (7 of 8)

I'm not enough of a Strauss fan to comment on Zarathustra, but Steinberg's phrasing and tempos in the Holst are, to my mind, perfect. Only Handley comes close, and his recording has some small issues, like birds in the rafters and a less than perfect SACD transfer by Membran. (It actually sounds better in its RPO Masterworks CD edition, but, sadly, I think those are being done on CD-Rs, now.) Perhaps some folks will compare the Steinberg to the Mehta/LAPO, recently reissued on Analogue Productions, because of their being recorded within a year or so of each other (c.1970). The Steinberg is warmer with the Boston string tone. The Mehta is more aggressive and a bit cold, maybe more fitting to an outer space concept (inevitable to escape when paired with the "2001 music," I suppose, but The Planets is about astrology, really.)

Anyway, Steinberg's Planets may not be the last word in "sonic boom," but I find it to be the most inherently musical version of the many I've owned. It holds up to repeated listenings very well.

Comment by ubertrout - February 13, 2018 (8 of 8)

Pretty much what Scott said. There's a reason this pairing has been in print for at least the past 2 decades.